US6726305B2 - Method and device for filling an ink supply system in an inkjet printer - Google Patents

Method and device for filling an ink supply system in an inkjet printer Download PDF

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Publication number
US6726305B2
US6726305B2 US10/085,171 US8517102A US6726305B2 US 6726305 B2 US6726305 B2 US 6726305B2 US 8517102 A US8517102 A US 8517102A US 6726305 B2 US6726305 B2 US 6726305B2
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
printhead
nozzle
part chamber
ink
storage container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US10/085,171
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English (en)
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US20020118261A1 (en
Inventor
Klaus Dietel
Berthold Löw
Gerhard Lohrmann
Henning Frunder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
XYZ Computerdrucker GmbH
Original Assignee
Tally Computerdrucker GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tally Computerdrucker GmbH filed Critical Tally Computerdrucker GmbH
Publication of US20020118261A1 publication Critical patent/US20020118261A1/en
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Publication of US6726305B2 publication Critical patent/US6726305B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
    • B41J2/17509—Whilst mounted in the printer

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a device for filling of an inkjet supply system in an inkjet printer, wherein the nozzle printhead is fed by an ink storage container and/ or a nozzle printhead tank connectable to the ink storage container and wherein the nozzle printhead is connected to a cleaning station with an exhaust pump for cleaning purposes.
  • the nozzle print head comprises essentially an arrangement of a plurality of fine nozzles (with a diameter of several micrometers), wherein likewise fine ink droplets are ejected from the fine nozzles resulting in a print picture and wherein the fine nozzles are controlled by electrical pulses.
  • the nozzles are supplied with ink by the relatively small nozzle printhead tank disposed near the nozzle printhead.
  • the nozzle printhead tank is connected to the ink supply system comprising the ink storage container and the ink feed lines through a connecting sleeve.
  • a very fine meshed sieve is furnished in the nozzle printhead tank, wherein the very fine meshed sieve protects the nozzles against dirt particles and air bubbles, since these upon their penetration into the nozzles would interfere with the printing.
  • the sieve disposed in the nozzle printhead tank prevents however that under standard conditions the air disposed at that location can escape through the nozzles. In this phase a sufficient filling of the nozzle printhead tank is not possible. However the nozzle printhead tank has to be continuously filled with a minimal amount of ink in order to be able to maintain a sufficient ink flow to the nozzles in case of intensive printing. It is necessary for this purpose that a large part of the sieve face is covered with ink. For the case that the sieve is predominantly covered by air, then the air blocks a too large part of this sieve for the ink flow and the nozzle function is interrupted.
  • the present invention provides that the set object is resolved by having the ink, which ink in general is mixed with air, disposed in a two part subdivided nozzle printhead tank, wherein the part chambers of the printhead nozzle tank are separated by a fine meshed sieve, exhausted off through the nozzles in the time period until a reduced air bubble is formed in the chamber in front of the nozzle inputs.
  • a large amount of ink is thereby stored relative to the volume, wherein a special effect is generated, which special effect was determined by experiments. It proves to be very important that at least a small air bubble is disposed in the nozzle printhead tank.
  • the second part chamber Upon replacement of the ink volume in the first part chamber, the second part chamber is freed from the thereby penetrating air just to such an extent that that the ink flow to the nozzle head is not interfered with, however an air bubble remains in the second part chamber in order for the interferences, which are entered into the ink supply by moving of the nozzle head on the print carriage, to be effectively kept away from the nozzles and thereby not interfering with the nozzle function.
  • a valve disposed in the ink supply line to the nozzle printhead is closed, that thereafter a high under pressure is generated over the exhaust pump in the cleaning station with closely placed nozzle printhead, such that upon reaching of a predetermined under pressure high level the valve is opened and thereupon the exhaust pump is turned off.
  • the under pressure is not only generated in the cleaning station, but also between cleaning station and nozzle printhead in the nozzle region and in the nozzle printhead tank.
  • the closed valve does not permit an inflow of ink from the ink supply container.
  • the air bubble present in the nozzle printhead extends in this phase in analogy to the gas laws more and more.
  • a valve which is connected to the storage container generates a high under pressure in an exhaust line from the suction region or from the cleaning station such that after a predetermined under pressure height level, the valve is opened and thereafter the exhaust pump is turned off.
  • the advantage is the substantial filling of the nozzle printhead tank part chambers while simultaneously forming an air bubble of a predetermined size, which air bubble serves for damping the printhead's carriage motions, that is of the accelerating and delaying forces.
  • An electrical, pneumatic, or mechanical controllable valve is disposed in the ink supply line between the first printhead tank part chamber or the second printhead tank part chamber and the ink storage container.
  • the valve can also be disposed close to the cleaning station.
  • a storage container as a buffer volume disposed between the valve and the suction pump.
  • the valve is closed after sealingly placing the nozzle printhead at the cleaning station and a high under pressure is generated in the buffer volume with the exhaust pump.
  • the generated air bubble expands quickly, which however can occur only through the sieve and through the nozzles in the direction of the exhaust pump.
  • the rearward path is blocked by continual flowing ink.
  • the under pressure collapses and the air bubble shrinks to a measure corresponding to standard pressure.
  • the volume in the print head tank part chambers is filled by continual flowing ink.
  • the buffer volume is associated with the advantage that the generated under pressure does not collapse too quickly after opening of the valve.
  • the valve does not have to be disposed here on the printhead carriage. The mass disposed on the printhead carriage is thereby reduced and the acceleration and delaying forces are smaller.
  • An improvement further comprises that the exhaust line itself forms the buffer volume by the longitudinal section increased in its diameter and or its length.
  • Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the wall in which are explained in more detail in the following and by way of which also the method is illustrated.
  • FIG. 1 is a view of a vertical section through the printhead tank part chambers with the nozzle region
  • FIG. 2 is a viewof the ink supply system in a block diagram with ink supply container, valve, printhead tank part chambers, nozzles, cleaning station and exhaust pump,
  • FIG. 3 is a view of an alternative construction of the ink supply system
  • FIG. 4 is a view of a further alternative embodiment of the ink supply system.
  • the method for filling of the ink supply system in an inkjet printer is performed such that ink 6 containing air bubbles is exhausted in a nozzle printhead tank 3 divided into two parts, wherein the part chambers 3 a and 3 b are separated by a fine meshed sieve 7 , in a time section through the nozzles 8 until a reduced, small air bubble 11 forms in the space in front of the nozzle inputs 8 a (FIG. 1 ), wherein the nozzle printhead 1 of the inkjet printer is fed from the ink storage container 2 and a nozzle printhead tank 3 connectable to the ink storage container 2 and wherein the ink storage container 2 is connected to a cleaning station 4 with an exhaust pump 5 for cleaning purposes.
  • valve 9 in an ink supply line 10 to the nozzle printhead 1 is closed for generating of a high under pressure, wherein thereafter a high under pressure is generated in the ink supply system through the exhaust pump 5 in the cleaning station 4 while the nozzle printhead 1 is placed sealingly adjacent.
  • the valve 9 is opened and thereafter exhaust pump 5 is switched off.
  • the air blocks a large part of the surface of the sieve 7 for the ink flow and the printing can be interrupted at least in a part of the nozzles 8 .
  • This situation is also not relieved by having suctioning at the nozzles 8 with rising under pressure with the aid of the exhaust pump 5 through the cleaning station 4 .
  • the suctioning leads only to the situation that predominantly ink is suctioned off depending on the already reached filling level of the printhead tank 3 , wherein the ink then can press past the air bubble 11 at the sieve 7 at the higher under pressure.
  • the air bubble 11 partially blocks the ink flow.
  • An (electrically, mechanically, pneumatically) controllable valve 9 is inserted into the ink supply line 10 to the nozzle printhead 1 .
  • the nozzle printhead 1 is moved in front of the cleaning station 4 in a sealing position, the valve 9 is closed through the control line 9 a , the exhaust pump 5 is switched on, the high under pressure is generated, then the valve 9 is opened and the exhaust pump 5 is turned off.
  • the following effects are resulting thereby: the under pressure is generated not only in the cleaning station 4 but also in the nozzle printhead 1 and in the printhead tank part chambers 3 a and 3 b .
  • the closed valve 9 does not allow continual flow of ink 6 from the ink storage container 2 .
  • the air bubble 11 present in the nozzle printhead 1 thereby extends corresponding to the gas laws more and more.
  • the expansion can however only occur through the sieve 7 and the nozzles 8 in the direction of the exhaust pump 5 , since the realward path through the ink 6 and the valve 9 is blocked. As soon as a predetermined under pressure has been reached (depending on the power of the exhaust pump 5 , the sealing of the connection (nozzle printhead 1 /exhaust pump 5 ), duration of the exhausting), then the valve 9 is opened.
  • ink 6 can flow continually from the ink storage container 2 through the connection sleeve 3 c .
  • the under pressure in the system collapses and the air bubble 11 shrinks again corresponding to the standard pressure.
  • the volume becoming free in the printhead tank 3 is filled by the continually flowing ink 6 and the ink level in the printhead tank 3 rises from a level 12 a to a level 12 b .
  • the air already passed to this sieve 7 and the nozzles 8 does not again return into the printhead tank 3 .
  • This results in that printhead tank 3 is filled to a large part with ink 6 , however an air bubble 11 remains in residual form corresponding to the pressure situations.
  • a control line 9 a is employed according to FIG. 2 in order to control the valve 9 .
  • This control line 9 a and the valve 9 are carried along with the print head carriage.
  • these components can be disposed in the fixed part of the ink jet printer according to FIG. 3.
  • a controllable valve 9 and the storage container 14 is inserted into the exhaust line 13 between the cleaning station for and the exhaust pump 5 as a buffer volume.
  • the valve 9 should be disposed as close as possible to the cleaning station 4
  • the storage space 14 should disposed between the valve 9 and the exhaust pump 5 , and more in the neighborhood of the valve 9 .
  • Two variations are presented for the storage space 14 : according to FIG.
  • a branching 15 is furnished in the exhaust line 13 , wherein the storage space 14 is connected to the exhaust line 13 .
  • the exhaust line 13 can however also be provided between the exhaust pump 5 and the valve 9 by a correspondingly increased diameter and a suitable length as a longitudinal section 16 for furnishing the storage container 14 according to FIG. 4 .
  • the effects induced thereby are those which already have been described above.
  • the storage space 14 disposed between the exhaust pump 5 and the valve 9 serves the purpose that the generated under pressure does not collapse too quickly after opening of the valve 9 .
  • the under pressure disposed between the exhaust pump 5 and the valve 9 has to be distributed to the complete region of the cleaning station 4 , the nozzles 8 and the two printhead tank part chambers 3 a and 3 b .
  • the buffer volume 14 a cannot be too small in comparison to be recited requirements after a sufficient filling of the nozzle printhead 1 and the formation of the air bubble 11 in residual form for the reason that for a short time a sufficient under pressure arrives also in the printhead tank 3 , which under pressure causes the air present in the printhead tank 3 to forcefully expand.

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  • Ink Jet (AREA)
US10/085,171 2001-02-28 2002-02-27 Method and device for filling an ink supply system in an inkjet printer Expired - Fee Related US6726305B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10109761 2001-02-28
DE10109761A DE10109761C2 (de) 2001-02-28 2001-02-28 Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Befüllen eines Tintenzuführungssystems in einem Tintendrucker
DE10109761.1-27 2001-02-28

Publications (2)

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US20020118261A1 US20020118261A1 (en) 2002-08-29
US6726305B2 true US6726305B2 (en) 2004-04-27

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US10/085,171 Expired - Fee Related US6726305B2 (en) 2001-02-28 2002-02-27 Method and device for filling an ink supply system in an inkjet printer

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US6726305B2 (de)
JP (1) JP2002283587A (de)
DE (1) DE10109761C2 (de)
GB (1) GB2372725B (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10132964C2 (de) * 2001-07-06 2003-06-12 Tally Computerdrucker Gmbh Verfahren zum Befüllen einer Tintenzuführungs-Einrichtung in einem Tintendrucker
DE10328985B3 (de) * 2003-06-27 2004-10-07 Tallygenicom Computerdrucker Gmbh Matrixdrucker, insbesondere serieller Drucker, mit zumindest einem Düsendruckkopf
WO2024021067A1 (zh) * 2022-07-29 2024-02-01 深圳诚拓数码设备有限公司 喷头的保养系统、喷墨打印机、保养方法及打印方法

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5126766A (en) * 1989-03-17 1992-06-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus including means for opening and closing an ink supply path
US5946015A (en) * 1997-06-02 1999-08-31 Xerox Corporation Method and apparatus for air removal from ink jet printheads

Family Cites Families (14)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4413267A (en) * 1981-12-18 1983-11-01 Centronics Data Computer Corp. Ink supply system for ink jet printing apparatus
US4463362A (en) * 1982-06-07 1984-07-31 Ncr Corporation Ink control baffle plates for ink jet printer
GB2131745B (en) * 1982-10-14 1986-06-25 Epson Corp Ink jet head assembly
DE3637991A1 (de) * 1985-11-08 1987-05-14 Canon Kk Tintenstrahl-aufzeichnungsvorrichtung und regenerierverfahren hierfuer
JP2946725B2 (ja) * 1989-11-06 1999-09-06 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット式記録装置
JP2756023B2 (ja) * 1990-07-02 1998-05-25 アルプス電気株式会社 インクジェットヘッド
DE69210509T2 (de) * 1991-08-29 1996-09-12 Hewlett Packard Co Leckfreies Farbstrahlaufzeichnungsgerät
JPH0584923A (ja) * 1991-09-27 1993-04-06 Seiko Epson Corp インクジエツト記録装置
JP2749477B2 (ja) * 1992-03-12 1998-05-13 株式会社テック インクジェットプリンタ
EP0802058B1 (de) * 1993-02-02 1999-05-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Verfahren zum Befüllen von Tintendurchgängen mit Tinte
JPH07329301A (ja) * 1994-06-03 1995-12-19 Canon Inc インクジェット記録ヘッド、インクジェット記録装置および情報処理システム
JP3632201B2 (ja) * 1998-03-06 2005-03-23 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット式記録ヘッドのインク吸引方法
JP2000085153A (ja) * 1998-07-15 2000-03-28 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェット記録装置及びその初期充填方法
JP3695502B2 (ja) * 1998-08-06 2005-09-14 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジェット式記録装置および同装置における記録ヘッドのクリーニング制御方法

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5126766A (en) * 1989-03-17 1992-06-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus including means for opening and closing an ink supply path
US5946015A (en) * 1997-06-02 1999-08-31 Xerox Corporation Method and apparatus for air removal from ink jet printheads

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0202890D0 (en) 2002-03-27
GB2372725A (en) 2002-09-04
JP2002283587A (ja) 2002-10-03
US20020118261A1 (en) 2002-08-29
GB2372725B (en) 2004-08-18
DE10109761A1 (de) 2002-09-05
DE10109761C2 (de) 2003-06-18

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Effective date: 20080427